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Infertility

Our Infertility Support forum is a space to connect with others in the same position, discuss causes, treatment and IVF, and share infertility stories of hope and success.

Original poster

January/ February IVF/ICSI

681 replies

Justwaitingforaline · 07/01/2019 09:27

Starting a new thread for all of us going through IVF/ICSI in January/February!

First round of ICSI for us. I’m on the last week of my birth control pill before starting Gonal F injections on the 18th Jan, with the hope of egg collection on the 30th and transfer on the 4th Feb! I’m egg sharing so have been on the pill a while to sync my cycle with the woman recovering half of my eggs Smile.

Is anyone else at a simile stage?

OP posts:
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7
Boboelephant · 08/02/2019 21:32

@Peanut1980 thank you!!! 🤞🤞🤞

@Cornishmaid1 how did your scan go today?

CornishMaid1 · 08/02/2019 22:02

@boboelephant Glad your scan went so well. I have four follicles big enough and three a bit smaller coming along so they are happy. I have my trigger tomorrow as well and collection on Monday too.

Peanut1980 · 09/02/2019 06:56

@cornishmaid1 oh wow! Great news for you too. Good luck for Monday xxx

Realitysucks · 09/02/2019 07:27

@boboelephant

@peanut1989
@ginandtonic31 thanks ladies. I know I have to wait till Tuesday. Good luck everyone having egg collection soon x

CornishMaid1 · 09/02/2019 08:57

I'm starting to feel really nervous for Monday now. I'm trying to stay calm but keep thinking that if only 4 are large and the others haven't caught up by Monday that is not many eggs as I know it is rare for them all to fertilise and make it.

I was hoping for some to freeze just in case but now I'm worried that there won't be any at all let alone spares.

Just got to try to stay calm. Planning to down myself in milk for the next few days as I had read that milk can help them to grow (not sure it's true but willing to try anything).

Has anyone else done anything that helped to get the last few to grow in time?

Ginandtonic31 · 09/02/2019 09:38

A hot water bottle helped me but I had so many empty follicles I’m not sure whether the hot water bottle made them grow too fast. Or if it would have been the case anyway

Boboelephant · 09/02/2019 10:05

@CornishMaid1 what size were your large ones? And what size were the ones that you are hoping will catch up? A lot can still change in 3 days.
I have heard- and am trying- hot water bottle and lots of protein. I'm also drinking milk, eating Brazil nuts, eggs and avocado.

Flemo1978 · 09/02/2019 10:23

Hello hoping I can join. We have recently been referred for ivf and have our pre treatment appointment with the nurse end of this month. Both very nervous and excited. Always thought pregnancy would happen naturally, and thought I would be ok if I didn’t, however, reaching 40 made me think about not wanting to live with regrets. During my last appt with the consultant apparently my egg reserve is good for an ‘old lady! Which he said with jest and it definitely lightened the mood. Now I worry that I am overthinking everything. It is good to read the experiences of others to help me on our journey, which at the moment seems very baffling and daunting xx

CornishMaid1 · 09/02/2019 10:58

@boboelephant I think they were 20, 19 and two at 16 then 3 at 11-12.

I shall get my water bottle out and up my protein. Will pop out for some Brazil nuts too. Thank you all.

Boboelephant · 09/02/2019 12:16

@Flemo1978 welcome and feel free to ask any questions. I have googled so much since starting this journey and pepper the clinic with questions. At least your AMH is good, that's a positive. Hope your initial appointment goes well.

@CornishMaid1 I hope they grow for you. They can grow 1-2mm a day so every chance those 3 will catch up! Between my Thursday and Friday scan, my 18.5mm one hadn't grown but my 3 smaller ones all had grown 2mm overnight so it's definitely possible!

2019isouryear · 09/02/2019 13:28

@Boboelephant thankyou (was Flemo1978)

PhoenixBird82 · 09/02/2019 20:16

Hello dear ladies
just wanted to share and get it off my shoulders. It's my first IVF after 4 unsuccessful attempts of IUI last year, starting in August. And my road during this IVF is quite bumpy.
With IUI my body reacted well to medicaments and I grew enough follicles even with a small dose. However this time I have only three big enough follicles in my right ovary, and on the other side I have only two good ones. My third and last ultrasound before EC showed on my right ovary two follicles soued 20 and 18 mm and 2 other around 15mm. The left side with 2 well-sized follicles according to the doctor will be not reachable because of two myoms that block access.
It feels like a blow: not only I don't have a good number of follicles but we can't get all of them and some of it will go wasted.
On my second ultrasound the doctor asked if we want to carry on with the treatment, he seemed so distant. It really feels that I am just a number on his patient list. And my husband motivated me that we go further. It's sad to waste this attempt, all the effort, medicaments and hope.
And I agree with someone who wrote in the other thread that it only takes one egg. Reading similar stories definitely helps a lot. I don't compare, or at least try not to- all of us are different here, but reading that I am not alone in this journey helps immensely.
So we decided to carry on. My stims were prolonged for one more day. I injected myself one last time tonight ( with stims that I forgot to store in the fridge yesterday) and will go for a blood test tomorrow. I will probably have my EC on Tuesday.
Wishing you all good luck and a painless journey to your ultimate dream!
And if you have similar stories about low follicle count, especially successful ones, please write them here. Reading and sharing experiences helps so much. I feel that I am not alone in all this endless world of fertility, follicles, stimulation and uterus issues.
Warm greetings from France

Lionesscub · 10/02/2019 06:21

@boboelephant hot water bottle does help but the doctor had told me that it should be luke warm and not too hot. Thank you for letting me know that they should have done blood tests which they did not so I will pick that up when I see them. I am thinking that since they were closed on Sunday they pushed my egg collection for Monday.... who knows???
@realitysucks I had 6 follicles in total and only 3 were ranging size 14,16,16 when I was asked to do my trigger shot. Though the cycle did not go through, the doctor said that there were viable eggs in all 6 of them.
@ginandtonicformeplease Thank you for the recommendation. I have been doing some research and am more inclined towards Zita West as well and you have put my concerns to rest about they trying to up sell anything. I have written to them and have heard back as well. They have registered me for the open evening event on 12th March and also will get a call back.

From me, getting back on track and still maintaining a health diet. I was worried about my diabetes, but even my sugar levels are well in control, could do better to give us the best chance next time. Work colleagues have been very supportive.... those who know and who I report into including offering me a staff loan if we need it for the paid round of IVF. I do consider myself lucky in this aspect. Forward and upwards is the only option I am giving myself now and when the time comes will take it one day at a time

bunnieboo91 · 10/02/2019 12:05

Hello everyone! I found an active thread thank God! My first cycle IVF.

So they collected six eggs and all six were fertilised which I was over the moon about! I have my embryo transfer tomorrow but my DH is asking me do I need a couple of days off to chill and rest?

What has everyone else being doing? Any advice would be amazing!

Thanks

FingersXssd83 · 10/02/2019 15:55

Hi ladies, thought I'd check in after my day 4 double embryo transfer from a few weeks ago. It was our OTD last Saturday which was a BFN, which I already knew as I started heavily bleeding a few days before.

I've found the last few weeks extremely distressing. This was our second cycle and I think I've properly started to process that we might not ever have children. Although we haven't had a large amount of eggs and had an issue with immaturity, we've had more than 80% of our eggs get to blast but they sadly haven't stuck :(

It all feels very desperate and overwhelming. I've been researching DE and adoption and trying to process the next steps. I'm also going to our review meeting with a list full of tests that I want now rather than going through another failed cycle.

Anyway, wishing everyone the very best on their journey. Thanks for the support. I'm signing off MN for a few months to clear my head until our next cycle x x x

NRW39 · 10/02/2019 18:55

Hi everyone.
I'm new to this. I wanted to get in touch with other women who know exactly what I'm going through (no offence to my wonderful family or girlfriends x)

I started my second cycle of ICSI on Friday 9th Feb. Long cycle. Buserelin injections. My partner is administering for me.

The first round was 9 months ago and ended in miscarriage at 6 weeks.

I'm excited about starting again but there's definitely anxiety this time around.

I'm 39 and want this so much. I'm keeping calm and haven't drunk alcohol since the first round started. I feel healthy and fit and ready.

I'm praying to the universe and using positive affirmation...

PhoenixBird82 · 10/02/2019 18:57

Wishing you good luck too and don’t feel too disheartened yet!!!
Maybe another cycle will work out!! I know it’s so hard to stay positive and it times it feels that it’s so unfair that you can’t even succeed in such seemingly simple task as conceiving, seeing all these pregnant women and children around.
Sorry to ask, but were you explained the reason why the blasts didn’t stick?
And what other tests would you like to perform before going on with a new try?

NRW39 · 10/02/2019 19:29

Thank you.

They said most likely a chromosomal fault. It has taken many months including therapy to accept the whole situation.

The fertility issue lies with my partner.

Peanut1980 · 10/02/2019 19:50

Ohh @fingersxssd83 I’m so sorry they didn’t stick. It’s heartbreaking. Please don’t give up on your dreams. Take some time out to recover physically and mentally. Maybe get something booked so you have something to look forward to? A night/weekend away or maybe a holiday? You have to get that feel good factor going again which I know will take time. Big BIG hugs to you xxxx

FingersXssd83 · 10/02/2019 20:15

Thanks so much for your lovely words and cheering me on @Peanut1980 We're all going through such an awful blip in our lives. I'm going to keep hold of the dream of having a family no matter how difficult it gets. Wishing you the best for your transfer.

@PhoenixBird82 There's no reason why they haven't stuck. We're in the unexplained camp and I'm going to ask our consultant for the following tests:

  • L1/2 immunes
  • Thyroid
  • Hycosy and uterine
  • Sperm DNA fragmentation
  • Blood clotting
  • Hormone tests
  • Endometrium receptivity
  • Chromosomal issues
  • Endometrial scratch

We may have just been unlucky and the three embryos we have transferred were abnormal but I can't face another transfer not working. It will be our last NHS cycle (which I'm ever so grateful for) so if it costs us a fortune then I'd rather pay upfront and if it turns out we need more meds then it'll be worth it rather than going through another cycle that's doomed.

All the best lovely ladies. Hope to see you on the pregnancy boards soon 🤞🏻 x x x

intrigued2018 · 10/02/2019 21:32

@FingersXssd83 - I'm so sorry to hear things didn't work out this cycle for you! I hope you are okay, don't shut off your options just yet. It is definitely work getting your clinic to do tests - I have to have my natural killer cells tested, thyroid and a tonne of other tests. Cost a fortune but hopefully worth it as they are now throwing all additional meds at me due to the results.

I have my first stims scan tomorrow, it's day 4 of injections - trying not to think about it but starting to get nervous. Also have a intralipid infusion. Finding it hard to be health, I'm on 25mg of steroids so feel constantly hungry! I definitely need to start controlling the diet side. 🙈 I'm not feeling too positive and only just starting. X

bunnieboo91 · 10/02/2019 22:57

Hello me again! I don't know if my post got posted but i’ll add it again Grin

Did anyone take any time off for ET? I don't want to take the mick with work but want to do everything right in order for this to work!

Let's all stay strong and sain and be positive girls! Thinking of you all and pray for good news!

bunnieboo91 · 10/02/2019 23:00

@fingersxssd83

I am so sorry to hear it didn't work out! I've lost a child at 26 weeks and when you want something so bad in your life you're willing to do anything for that dream to finally come true! Please keep positive it will happen! My mum had myself in her mid-forties and my sister so it can happen!

intrigued2018 · 11/02/2019 06:56

@Boboelephant and @CornishMaid1 - best of luck today with your EC, I hope all goes well x

katherine1987 · 11/02/2019 07:00

Hi,

I had me EC on Wednesday in which I had 16 eggs collected in which 15 fertilised booked in for egg transfer this afternoon. Don't think I have ever been so nervous for anything. Fingers crossed 1 has made the blastocyst stage. Just wanted to see how other people are dealing with the 2WW....I get easily stressed and don't deal with it very well Confused